I N S I D E
Curry’s Heroes: DuBois and Trotter, Pg. 31
I N S I D E
Longtime Maryland Politician Remembered, Pg. 12
Students Try Spelling Their Way to Glory, Pg. 21
Uniontown Bar/Grill Adds Spice to Southeast, Pg. 17
Teen DJ is Rocking the House, Pg. 33
Vol. 50, No. 20 Feb. 26 - Mar. 4 2015
In celebration of Black History Month, First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a panel discussion at the White House on Friday, Feb. 20th co-hosted by Essence Magazine. Women who have played critical roles in America’s progress on civil rights were recognized. Panelists included: National Executive Director of NAN, Janaye Ingram; Carlotta Walls LaNier, the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine; Charlayne Hunter-Gault, activist and journalist; Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund; and Chanelle Hardy, senior vice president for Policy, National Urban League. /Photo by Roy Lewis
SSDI in Peril By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer
The battle over Social Security Disability Insurance benefits continues to unfold on Capitol Hill, and, as in the case of most of these fights, numerous officials argue that it’s the little guy who gets hurt.
In fact, in this case, those with mental health problems and other disabilities are said to be most at risk. “Because the program is vital to workers and their families, we must take steps to ensure its stability and avoid deep and abrupt cuts or cessation of benefits to individuals with disabilities,”
NAMI, Other Organizations Battle to Save Benefits
Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner Carolyn Colvin told the Senate Budget Committee this month. “The temporary allocation the president proposes will have no effect on overall health of the combined [retirement and disability] trust funds” and wouldn’t raise taxes for workers or employers,
she said. If Congress doesn’t take action, the Social Security Disability Insurance program, which helps support the disabled, will run out of sufficient funds by late 2016, triggering a 19 percent cut in disability benefits. That prospect has alarmed the White House and lawmakers
from both parties. In a preview of how difficult it would be to make bigger changes to entitlement programs, The Wall Street Journal reported that the administration and GOP lawmakers are clashing over how to shore up the disability insur-
SOCIAL SECURITY Page 8
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